Analyzing platforms of creating and developing the quality assurance of European higher education

The aim of this study was to analyze historical contexts as well as creation and development of quality assurance system of the European higher education area. In doing so, two research questions were addressed: (a) what contexts and platforms have induced emergence and development of quality assurance in the European higher education area and (b) what are the effects of creating and developing quality assurance in the European higher education area? This study was of qualitative research type and the data were analyzed through content analysis of documents available at universities in the European Union and the European Network for Quality Assurance in Higher Education website. The findings demonstrated that economic, sociocultural, political and technological platforms have affected development of an efficient quality assurance system in the European higher education area and have correspondingly made the higher education more competitive and powerful in this area. Moreover, high-quality education, learning, research, and so on have been ensured. With reference to quality assurance development plans, the European higher education area has specially concentrated on thematic issues of quality assurance culture and its recognition, quality assurance of e-learning, as well as capacity building and design of joint quality assurance programs in the European area and outside it.